Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-02-18
GRANT AND HANCOCK.
The Cause Of the EstranEement Be
tween Them.

III Cause OF the Estrangement BE
tween Them.
Washington letter: A we'll know
major general in the army last evening
gave the true story of the original
quarrel between Grant and Hancock.
He said: "Tbe facts, familiar to some
of us, and as related by contemporaries
GUS army officers, who, like myself, mst
the Russell and Dent families and young
Lieuts, Grant and Hancock years ago
in st, Louis, briefly stated, are these:
The Russell family, then Lying in St.
Louis, was rich, becoming 80 upon
profitable army contracts which Miss
Russel's father had obtained from the
United States government during and
| after the Mexican war. Tue Dent
family, then resident in the suburbs OF
st. Louis, was poor. The Russell fam
NY entertained splendidly. The Dent
family did not mingle in the society of
that CITY but Lived humbly and frugally.
The young lieutenants and captains of
our regular army who coveted riches and
were fond of elegant society, visited the
Russells, admired and some courted the
rich and accomplished Miss Russell.
The gay young officers VINO coveted
riches did not seek Miss Dent, and,
therefore. is was said, she became Just a
little envious of the much-songht rich
young lady. A superb young officer
won and carried off the rich prize
Lieut.. Winfield Scott Hancock married
Miss Russell. A poor and then not very
prepossesslng young officer found favor
in the eyes and won the heart OF the
more humble yonng lady. Lieut.. Ulysses
s.. Grant married Miss Dent. Though
for many yeara thereafter the homes ol
those two families were separated by
hundreds OF miles, yet the members were
not lost sight OF each to the other. Han
cock became personally popular witt
the people of his home in Pennsylvania
and advanced creditably: in the militar,
service, while Grant, not thus favored by
fortune, got out of the army and strng-
gled in poverty.
"Now,.' added the major-general viii
emphasis, "tLerei in that protracted con-
traHt OF positions was planted the
seed, long dormant, from which sprung
1.-THE Grant-HaneooR quarrel-envy. I'M
mediateiy upon the close OF the wa
of the rebellion Hancock was placed il
military charge OF the district OF Gotum
bio, with headquarters j n Washington
Tine quartermaster IN charge OF the dis
triot, whose official duty 1t was to provid,
Hancock with quarters Tor his tamil.
residence rented o choice dwelliug-hons
in Washington for that purpose, an,
Gen. and Mrs. Hancock moved into il
There they were residing when aloni
oame from Virginia, Gen. Grant and hi
family. Grant outranked Hancock q
military commander. According t,
military rule the superior officer in ram
has the absolute choIce of quarters an,
can, il he will, take possession Of thos
already occupied by his inferior.
Mrs. Grant, looking around for q resi-
dence for her family. came upon tn
house in which Mrs. Hancock was lTy
! ing. Mrs Grant told her husband OF thi
, discovery and expressed her desire +
occupy that house. Gen. Grant 80 III
formed the quartermastef, and th
latter as wal his official duty, according
ly made known to Gen. Hancock tina
his family must vacste the premises
Hancock wrote q letter to Grant depre
eating that action, remarking, among
other things, that there were numerou
dwelling houses in Washington equal
} and some more desirable to be.had TO
tho asking. Grant replied in term
which Hancock regarded as discourseou
and In some sentences decidedly Offer
sive. The Hanoocks Immediately vaca,
ed the coveted house and the Grant
. moved into it.
Some time thereafter, on 18th stree
in front OF the treasury building, Gran
and Hancock met. The former, as b
after ward stated, was prepared to sslut
] the latter and indicated his purpose
Gen. Hancock observed Gen. Grant, bu
in q marked manner refused to speal
and passed on. This occurrence becomin
publicly known some days. theresftei
: Gsu. Sherman voluntarily interposed a
mediator. A written correspondence bs
tween Sherman and Hancock FOLLOWED
but no reconciliation ever took plac
between Grant and Hancock, thouR
Grant frequently expressed his regret
the enlargement. Time removed til
ascerbity Of Hancock''s resentment an
he, AZ We know, was one of the most col
spicnous among the distinguished me
who attended the funeral OF Ger
Grant"
II EeL uEA